Gilbert History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
France
Ireland

The notable Gilbert family arose among the Cornish People, a race with a rich Celtic heritage and an indomitable fighting spirit who inhabited the southwest of England. While surnames were well-known during the English medieval period, Cornish People originally used only a single name. The way in which hereditary surnames came into common use is interesting. As the population of medieval Europe multiplied, people began to assume an extra name to avoid confusion and to further identify themselves. Under the Feudal System of government, surnames evolved and they often reflected life on the manor and in the field. Patronymic surnames were derived from given names and were the predominant type of surname among the Celtic peoples of Britain. However, the people of Cornwall provide a surprising exception to this rule, and patronymic surnames are less common among them than other people of Celtic stock, such as their Welsh neighbors. This is due to the greater influence of English bureaucracy and naming practices in Cornwall at the time that surnames first arose. This type of surname blended perfectly with the prevailing Feudal System. One feature that is occasionally found in Cornish surnames of this type is the suffix -oe or -ow; this is derived from the Cornish plural suffix -ow. is a patronymic surname that came from the ancient Germanic personal name Gisilbert, meaning bright hostage or bright pledge. 1 2 3

Early Origins of the Gilbert family

The surname Gilbert was first found in Devon where they were well established shortly after the Conquest with Gilbert of Sempringham (c. 1083-1190,) son of a wealthy Norman knight, a theologian, who became the first Englishman to found a convent; he was canonized in 1202. He was founder of the order that bears his name. 4

The Domesday Book of 1086 includes an entry for the family in Wiltshire: Gislebertus, the early Latin form of the name. 5

"Near Dartmouth is Greenway, the seat of the famous Gilberts. The family was settled here in the reign of Edward II. ; and here were born their father being Otho Gilbert and their mother Katherine Champernowne Humphry and Adrian Gilbert, the famous half-brothers of the still more famous Sir Walter Ralegh." 6

Gilbertus presbiter was listed in Lincolnshire c. 1150. Later, Willelmus Gilberti was found in the Curia Regis Rolls for Wiltshire in 1202 and later again, Robert Gylwbert was found in Norfolk in 1235. Robert Gilberd was listed in Cambridgeshire in 1240 as was William Gilbert in 1290. The Feet of Fines for Suffolk listed John Gilbard in Suffolk in 1204. 7 "The frequency of Gilberd suggests that this, with Gil(f)bard, may at times belong to Goldbard, though Gilbeard certainly occurs for Gilbert." 7

Gilbert the Universal (d. 1134?), was Bishop of London, "is described as 'natione Britannus' by Richard of Poitiers, who probably means a Breton rather than a Welshman." 8

Gilbert of Louth (d. 1153?), Abbot of Basingwerk, was sent by Gervase, founder and first abbot of Louth in Lincolnshire, about 1140 to an Irish king " in order to obtain a grant to build a monastery in Ireland. The grant was made, and on Gilbert complaining that he did not understand the language, the king gave him as an interpreter the knight Owen, who, according to the legend, had descended into purgatory." 8

"The Gilbertines were an English order with numerous convents at the time of the suppression." 9

The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 listed the following: Isolda filius Gilberti; Robert Gilbertus; and Eustace filius Gilebert, while the Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379 listed: Nicholas Gilberdson; and Johannes Gilberd. 9

"This name has its principal home in the midland counties of Leicester and Rutland, Northampton, Warwick, and Worcester. It is for the most part a name of the midlands, being absent in the north beyond Staffordshire and Lincolnshire. It has, however, a secondary and independent home in Cornwall and Devon." 10

Early History of the Gilbert family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Gilbert research. Another 76 words (5 lines of text) covering the years 1537, 1544, 1583, 1603, 1613, 1694 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Gilbert History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Gilbert Spelling Variations

Cornish surnames are characterized by a multitude of spelling variations. The frequent changes in surnames are due to the fact that the Old and Middle English languages lacked definite spelling rules. The official court languages, which were Latin and French, were also influential on the spelling of a surname. Since the spelling of surnames was rarely consistent in medieval times, and scribes and church officials recorded names as they sounded rather than adhering to any specific spelling rules, it was common to find the same individual referred to with different spellings of their surname in the ancient chronicles. Moreover, a large number of foreign names were brought into England, which accelerated and accentuated the alterations to the spelling of various surnames. Lastly, spelling variations often resulted from the linguistic differences between the people of Cornwall and the rest of England. The Cornish spoke a unique Brythonic Celtic language which was first recorded in written documents during the 10th century. However, they became increasingly Anglicized, and Cornish became extinct as a spoken language in 1777, although it has been revived by Cornish patriots in the modern era. The name has been spelled Gilbert, Gilbart, Gilberd and others.

Early Notables of the Gilbert family

Notable amongst the family at this time was

Sir Robert Gilbert of Somerson
Sir Humphrey Gilbert (c.1537-1583), English soldier and politician, known as the first English colonizer, even though his attempts failed
William Gilbert (1544-1603), an English physician and physicist, who made some early discoveries about magnetism and electricity

Gilbert World Ranking

In the United States, the name Gilbert is the 237^th most popular surname with an estimated 111,915 people with that name. 11 However, in Canada, the name Gilbert is ranked the 145^th most popular surname with an estimated 22,898 people with that name. 12 And in Quebec, Canada, the name Gilbert is the 97^th popular surname. 13 Newfoundland, Canada ranks Gilbert as 471^st with 100 people. 14 France ranks Gilbert as 207^th with 16,655 people. 15 Australia ranks Gilbert as 262^nd with 13,224 people. 16 New Zealand ranks Gilbert as 273^rd with 2,227 people. 17 The United Kingdom ranks Gilbert as 240^th with 24,746 people. 18

Migration of the Gilbert family to Ireland

Some of the Gilbert family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 57 words (4 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Gilbert migration to the United States +

A look at the immigration and passenger lists has shown a number of people bearing the name Gilbert:

Gilbert Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Mr. Bartholomew Gilbert, who arrived in New England in 1602 aboard the ship "The Concord" 19
Raleigh Gilbert settled to Maine in 1607
John Gilbert, who settled in New England in 1620
John Gilbert, who settled in Massachusetts in 1630
Mr. Richard Gilbert, who left England and arrived in Maryland in 1634 aboard the ship "Ark and Dove"
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Gilbert Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

William Gilbert, who settled in Boston in 1716
Bond Gilbert, who settled in Nevis, Massachusetts in 1722
Dorothy Gilbert, who landed in Virginia in 1724 20
Anthony Gilbert, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1732 20
Anthorn Gilbert, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1732 20
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Gilbert Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Christopher Gilbert, who arrived in America in 1802 20
Charles Gilbert, who arrived in Charleston, South Carolina in 1812 20
Peter R Gilbert, aged 43, who landed in Maryland in 1812 20
Colomeza, Jose Gilbert, who landed in Puerto Rico in 1816 20
Adam Gilbert, who arrived in Maryland in 1825 20
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Gilbert Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

Walter Henry Gilbert, who arrived in Mississippi in 1902 20

Gilbert migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Gilbert Settlers in Canada in the 17th Century

Pierre Gilbert, aged 35, who arrived in Quebec in 1658
Mr. Pierre Gilbert, French settler travelling to Canada to work for Pierre de Voyer d'Argenson, arriving on 12th April 1658 21
Etienne Gilbert, son of Henry and Renée, who married Marguerite Thibaut, daughter of Michel and Jeanne, in Pointe-aux-Trembles, Quebec on 1st March 1683 22
Pierre Gilbert married Michelle Seguillet, daughter of Nicolas and Renée, in Trois-Rivières, Quebec on 29th September 1685 22
Louis Gilbert, son of Vincent and Vincente, who married Marie-Thérèse Gallien, daughter of Jean and Marguerite, in Champlain, Quebec on 7th January 1687 22
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Gilbert Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

Jean-François Gilbert, son of Etienne and Marguerite, who married Catherine Bédard, daughter of Etienne and Marie, in Charlesbourg, Quebec on 29th August 1718 22
Augustin Gilbert, son of Etienne and Marguerite, who married Catherine Liberge, daughter of Jacques and Jeanne-Angélique, in Quebec on 6th February 1719 22
Louis Gilbert, son of Louis and Marie, who married Anne-Madeleine Jacques, daughter of Louis and Antoinette, in Charlesbourg, Quebec on 20th April 1722 22
Charles Gilbert, son of Charles and Marie, who married Marie-Jeanne Lefebvre, daughte of Pierre and Marie, in Quebec on 8th January 1724 22
Pierre Gilbert, son of Jean and Élisabeth, who married Marie-Anne Archambault, daughter of Laurent and Anne, in Pointe-aux-Trembles, Quebec on 2nd November 1729 22
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Gilbert Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

Mary Ann Gilbert, who arrived in Halifax in 1811
Ann Gilbert, who landed in Halifax, Nova Scotia in 1811
Anne Gilbert, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1811
John Gilbert, who arrived in Halifax, Nova Scotia in 1811
John Gilbert, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1811
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Gilbert migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Gilbert Settlers in Australia in the 18th Century

Mr. Joseph Gilbert, English convict who was convicted in Wiltshire, England for life, transported aboard the "Barwell" in September 1797, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 23

Gilbert Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Samuel Gilbert, English convict from Staffordshire, who was transported aboard the "Ann" on August 1809, settling in New South Wales, Australia 24
Mr. William Gilbert, British Convict who was convicted in London, England for 14 years, transported aboard the "Coromandel" on 27th October 1819, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 25
Mr. Daniel Gilbert, British Convict who was convicted in Worcester, Worcestershire, England for life, transported aboard the "Caledonia" on 5th July 1820, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 26
William Gilbert, English convict from Warwick, who was transported aboard the "Arab" on July 3, 1822, settling in Van Diemen's Land, Australia 27
George Gilbert, English convict from Surrey, who was transported aboard the "Asia" on April 1st, 1822, settling in New South Wales, Australia 28
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Gilbert migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Gilbert Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

James Gilbert, aged 22, a tailor, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Bengal Merchant" in 1840 29
Isabella Gilbert, aged 5, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Bengal Merchant" in 1840 29
Christina Gilbert, aged 3, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Bengal Merchant" in 1840 29
William Gilbert, aged 35, a farmer, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Duke of Roxburgh" in 1840 30
Philip Gilbert, aged 6, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Duke of Roxburgh" in 1840 30
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Gilbert migration to West Indies +

The British first settled the British West Indies around 1604. They made many attempts but failed in some to establish settlements on the Islands including Saint Lucia and Grenada. By 1627 they had managed to establish settlements on St. Kitts (St. Christopher) and Barbados, but by 1641 the Spanish had moved in and destroyed some of these including those at Providence Island. The British continued to expand the settlements including setting the First Federation in the British West Indies by 1674; some of the islands include Barbados, Bermuda, Cayman Island, Turks and Caicos, Jamaica and Belize then known as British Honduras. By the 1960's many of the islands became independent after the West Indies Federation which existed from 1958 to 1962 failed due to internal political conflicts. After this a number of Eastern Caribbean islands formed a free association. 31

Gilbert Settlers in West Indies in the 17th Century

Mr. Thomas Gilbert, (b. 1609), aged 26, British settler travelling aboard the ship "Expedition" arriving in Barbados in 1636 32
Elizabeth Gilbert, who settled in Barbados in 1654
William Gilbert, who settled in Barbados in 1663
Nathaniall Gilbert, who settled in Barbados in 1680
Mary Gilbert, who settled in Barbados in 1683

Contemporary Notables of the name Gilbert (post 1700) +

John Gilbert (1897-1936), born John Cecil Pringle, an American actor, screenwriter and director
Wayne Dale Gilbert (1946-2023), American artist and gallerist who lived and worked in Houston, Texas, best known for creating paintings using unclaimed, cremated human remains
Daren K. Gilbert (1963-2022), American professional football offensive tackle who played for four seasons in the National Football League (NFL) with the New Orleans Saints (1985-1989)
Sara Gilbert (b. 1975), born Sara Rebecca Abeles, an American actress, director, and producer known for her role as Darlene Conner on the ABC sitcom Roseanne (1988–1997; 2018), for which she received two Primetime Emmy Award nominations and her recurring role as Leslie Winkle on CBS's The Big Bang Theory
Thomas "Tommy" Edward Gilbert Sr. (1940-2015), American professional wrestler, inducted into the Memphis Wrestling Hall of Fame in 1994
Ruth Alice "Ronnie" Gilbert (1926-2015), American folk singer, songwriter and activist, one of the original members of the music quartet the Weavers
Major-General Harold Napoleon Gilbert (1896-1966), American Director of Military Personnel Procurement Service, Office of the Adjutant-General (1945-1946) 33
Walter Gilbert (b. 1932), American molecular biologist, who shared the Nobel Prize for Chemistry in 1980
Alfred Carlton Gilbert (1884-1961), American inventor, athlete, toy-maker and businessman
Cass Gilbert (1859-1934), American architect
... (Another 118 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Historic Events for the Gilbert family +

Halifax Explosion

Master William George Gilbert (1913-1917), Canadian resident from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada who died in the Halifax Explosion (1917) 34

HMS Hood

Mr. Harold Gilbert (b. 1919), English Able Seaman serving for the Royal Navy from Manchester, Lancashire, England, who sailed into battle and died in the HMS Hood sinking 35
Mr. Charles E G Gilbert (b. 1911), English Stoker 1st Class serving for the Royal Navy from Wimborne, Dorset, England, who sailed into battle and died in the HMS Hood sinking 35

HMS Prince of Wales

Mr. Alfred Edwin Gilbert (b. 1905), DSM,, English Chief Yeoman of Signals from England, who sailed into battle on the HMS Prince of Wales (1941) and died in the sinking 36

HMS Repulse

Mr. Frederick P Gilbert, British Boy 2nd Class, who sailed into battle on the HMS Repulse (1941) and survived the sinking 37

RMS Titanic

Mr. William Gilbert (d. 1912), aged 47, English Second Class passenger from Carleens, Cornwall who sailed aboard the RMS Titanic and died in the sinking 38

Senghenydd colliery

Mr. Edward Gilbert (b. 1858), Welsh coal miner from Senghenydd, Caerphilly, Wales who was working at the Senghenydd colliery when there was an explosion on the 14th October 1913; he died

SS Caribou

Mrs. Myrtle Gilbert, (Haystack), British passenger from Halifax, Nova Scotia was travelling aboard the railway ferry "SS Caribou" when it was struck by a German submarine torpedo on 14th October 1942, the most significant sinking in Canadian waters at that time, she died in the sinking

USS Arizona

Mr. Arthur B. Gilbert, American Seaman First Class working aboard the ship "USS Arizona" when she sunk during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on 7th December 1941, he survived the sinking 39

The Gilbert Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Teg yw heddwch
Motto Translation: Peace is pleasing.

Citations +

Harrison, Henry, Surnames of the United Kingdom: A Concise Etymological Dictionary Baltimore: Geneological Publishing Company, 2013. Print
Sims, Clifford Stanley The Origin and Signification of Scottish Surnames. 1862. Print.
Arthur, William , An Etymological Dictionary of Family and Christian Names. London: 1857. Print
The Norman People and Their Existing Descendants in the British Dominions and the United States Of America. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing, 1975. Print. (ISBN 0-8063-0636-X)
Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
Worth, R.N., A History of Devonshire London: Elliot Stock, 62, Paternoster Row, E.G., 1895. Digital
Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
Guppy, Henry Brougham, Homes of Family Names in Great Britain. 1890. Print.
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
"Surnames Meanings, Origins & Distribution Maps - Forebears." Forebears, https://forebears.io/surnames
"The first 1,000 family names by rank, Quebec (in French only)" Institut de la statistique du Quebec, https://statistique.quebec.ca/en/document/family-names-in-quebec/tableau/the-first-1000-family-names-by-rank-quebec
The order of Common Surnames in 1955 in Newfoundland retrieved on 20th October 2021 (retrieved from Family Names of the Island of Newfoundland by E.R. Seary corrected edition ISBN 0-7735-1782-0)
http://www.journaldesfemmes.com/nom-de-famille/nom/
"Most Common Last Names in Australia." Forebears, https://forebears.io/australia/surnames
"Most Common Last Names in New Zealand." Forebears, https://forebears.io/new-zealand/surnames
"UK surname ranking." UK Surname map, https://www.surnamemap.eu/unitedkingdom/surnames_ranking.php?p=10
Pilgrim Ship's of 1600's Retrieved January 6th 2023, retrieved from https://www.packrat-pro.com/ships/shiplist.htm
Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
Debien, Gabriel. Liste Des Engagés Pour Le Canada Au XVIIe Siècle. Vol. 6, Laval University, 1952. (Retreived 24th May 2018). Retrieved from https://lebloguedeguyperron.wordpress.com/2016/06/30/130-liste-des-contrats-dengagement-pour-la-nouvelle-france-releves-a-la-rochelle-entre-1634-et-1679/
Internoscia, Arthur E., and Claire Chevrier. Dictionnaire National des Canadiens Français 1608-1760. Vol. 1, Institut Drouin, 1958.
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 29th September 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/barwell
State Library of Queensland. (Retrieved 2016, October 27) Ann voyage to New South Wales, Australia in 1809 with 200 passengers. Retrieved from http://www.convictrecords.com.au/ships/ann/1809
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 12th March 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/coromandel
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 25th November 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/caledonia
State Library of Queensland. (Retrieved 2016, October 27) Arab voyage to Van Diemen's Land, Australia in 1822 with 155 passengers. Retrieved from http://www.convictrecords.com.au/ships/arab/1822
State Library of Queensland. (Retrieved 2016, October 27) Asia 1 voyage to Van Diemen's Land, Australia in 1822 with 190 passengers. Retrieved from http://www.convictrecords.com.au/ships/asia/1822
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 26th March 2019). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 5th November 2010). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_West_Indies
Pilgrim Ship Lists Early 1600's retrieved 29th September 2021. Retrieved from https://www.packrat-pro.com/ships/shiplist.htm
Generals of World War II. (Retrieved 2012, March 5) Harold Gilbert. Retrieved from http://generals.dk/general/Gilbert/Harold_Napoleon/USA.html
Halifax Explosion Book of Remembrance | Maritime Museum of the Atlantic. (Retrieved 2014, June 23) . Retrieved from https://maritimemuseum.novascotia.ca/what-see-do/halifax-explosion/halifax-explosion-book-remembrance
H.M.S. Hood Association-Battle Cruiser Hood: Crew Information - H.M.S. Hood Rolls of Honour, Men Lost in the Sinking of H.M.S. Hood, 24th May 1941. (Retrieved 2016, July 15) . Retrieved from http://www.hmshood.com/crew/memorial/roh_24may41.htm
HMS Prince of Wales Crew members. (Retrieved 2014, April 9) . Retrieved from http://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listprincecrew.html
HMS Repulse Crew members. (Retrieved 2014, April 9) . Retrieved from http://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listrepulsecrew.html
Titanic Passenger List - Titanic Facts. (Retrieved 2016, July 13) . Retrieved from http://www.titanicfacts.net/titanic-passenger-list.html
Pearl Harbour: USS Arizona Casualties List Pearl Harbour December 7, 1941. (Retrieved 2018, July 31st). Retrieved from http://pearl-harbor.com/arizona/casualtylist.html